AFD fire suits benefit volunteer fire departments

Albany's Fire Department got all new fire suits last month, thanks to a grant from Homeland Defense. One hundred-twenty-five sets of the coats, pants, suspenders, gloves, and helmets Albany's firefighters were using are being donated to volunteer departments requesting them.

Chief Jim Pritchard from the Parrot Volunteer Fire Department picked out ten sets of turn out gear for the new unit that is being set up. "It's probably $800 to $1000 a set new," said AFD Chief James Carswell. "It was functional the day we took them off our employees and put on their new gear. So it should service these organizations for years to come."

Parrot's Volunteer Fire Department received a new truck in August, and their firefighters will be able to finish their training certification with these suits.

So far, six volunteer departments in South Georgia have asked to receive some of Albany's surplus fire suits.